hi Folks. Been a busy day and I'm afraid lots of questions. Can any one date this please. Many thanks
That type first appears in Aladdin catalogues in 1954 and last in 1961. I can't call it closer than that but they had quite a short run of only 7 years at best. Considering how many turn up they must have made and sold a huge number at the time. ::Neil::
That's brill. Looks like one of the latter ones then. It fired up first time but is leaking at vapouriser. New seals on the way. Cheers
Yes, the cranked lower handle bracket is only on the third (and last) version. The absence of first and second version characteristics confirms that...
They are a well made heater and that one will clean up well enough and be very welcome in a cold shed, Jeff.
Well here it is. All cleaned, polished and painted. It's a paintshop match for the colour so I don't know the name. Only problem I had was the control cock position! Tried a double washer and that helped a bit. Could do with a treble thickness washer to get the control away from the bowl. Getting the flame to the bottom of the burner but what an amout of pumps it needs. Is there a recommended amount? The wire gaurd is quite bad and only saveable if I strip the chrome. Might be sand blasting and silver aluminium paint. Any suggestions? thanks for looking.
Hi Brian, Your paint match looks pretty good to me. Last one that I resprayed was done in "Rover Arum White". If you need to pump a lot there is something not right. I am sure that you have checked for leaks, so what is the vap tube like? Have you de-coaked it? The only other advice that I can offer is that they do like to run on a fuller, rather than empty tank. With regard to the guard, I have found that painting them, even with VHT paint is a waste of time. It will take years more to burn away the remaining wire. I would not be without mine in my shed! best bit of kit I have. Also, I am running mine on one of Longilly's new mantles, and I can say that it is better than the original! regards - Steve.
Cheers Steve. A de-coke and maybe a new mantle they. Can't say the heat is amazing. takes a while for the flame to completely reach the bottom of the wire mantle. thanks again.
Shouldn't be like that Brian. I reckon a vap-tube decoke and perhaps the burner decoke too would help lots. Mine chucks out so much heat that you cannot get within a metre of it comfortably. Great bits of kit. Steve.
Welcome aboard! The pump valve may need fettling and it's located at the bottom of the pump tube. The valve should unscrew with a screw driver, but sometimes the valve needs to be tightened a touch first to break the seal. You asked how to decoke one and I assume that you are referring to the burner? If so, then a soak in vinegar and then a rinse in water will clean the muck from it and repeat that process as often as is required. When I restore a lamp or a heater etc, I clean every part, which includes the inside of the tank. Do let us know how you get on with the restoration, Jeff.
Jeff Thank you for that, wondered if you had to buy one of those car decoke things. Its not so much a restoration but a continuation, I have been using this heater most winters since I was strong enough to pump it. My dad had it in his shed from before I was about and I inherited it a few years back, must be a late 50's model. Anyway the pump is fine and pressure holds ok, but the paraffin just will not get through properly anymore so must be all clogged up in the generator. Nick
Hello Nick, you may need a new vapouriser as the Bialaddin/Vapalux vapouriser only lasts for a time and it's very difficult to remove the carbon. Over the years muck from the tank can clog up the fuel feed pipe which is attached to the control cock. A clean lamp or heater will always work better, Jeff.
I see from your profile you're in "Newark" - assuming that's the English one, I expect we'll be seeing you at the forthcoming meet. If so, I'm sure someone will be able to supply a vapouriser and fettle your bowlfire as required...
Erm, OK I was thinking of one of my other lamps I don't have a pressure pip on mine Having fired it up again tonight on a fairly full tank it took 50 pumps and that was more than enough..
